Former Auditor General Robert Black becomes honorary vice-president of Shelter Scotland

Robert Black CBE and the Reverend Richard Holloway - Picture credit: Shelter Scotland

Former Auditor General Robert Black has become honorary vice-president of Shelter Scotland.

The housing and homelessness charity honoured him in recognition of his role as chairperson of the Commission on Housing and Wellbeing, which published its final report in 2015, and for his ongoing efforts in promoting its work.

The commission was established by Shelter Scotland and published a landmark report on the central role that good quality housing should play in enhancing the general wellbeing of people living in Scotland.

Black said: “I thank the Shelter Scotland committee for this award – it’s a great honour.

“Chairing the Commission on Housing and Wellbeing was a hugely rewarding experience.

“My fellow commissioners and I were set the very challenging task of coming up with a blueprint for Scotland’s future on housing and wellbeing.

“I believe we came up with an important report which hopefully is driving social change for the better in communities far and wide across Scotland.”

Black is only the second honorary vice-president of Shelter Scotland to have been appointed in the charity’s near 50 years of activity in Scotland, joining the Reverend Richard Holloway who helped found the Shelter Scotland campaign in 1968.

The title is an honorary lifetime appointment.

Black was Scotland’s first Auditor General, holding the post from 2000 until his retirement in 2012.